E. Lecuona, a la antigua, danza interrumpida, F. Fernández

Cuban prodigee composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona, 1895-1963, studied piano with A.C. Peyrellade, Saavedra, H.de Blanck and, later, composition with Joaquín Nin. Tours in Latin América, Europe and USA. Stay in New York where he wrote for musicals, films and radio. He composed one opera, seven zarzuelas (a real treasure, I shall be back on this), few works for orchestra and chamber music, lots of world famous songs and sparkling danzas for piano full of different rythmes, colours and moods.

In this video I suggest two of his danzas:
1.a la antigua, 00:00-02:02
2.danza interrumpida, 02:04-03:02

Cuban pianist, teacher and composer Frank Fernández, b. Mayarí 1944, studied in Cuba and in Moscow with Victor Merzhanov. He has given concerts and recorded in Europe, Russia, E.Asia, S.and C.América. He used to teach in the Havana Instituto Superior de Arte. Among his pupils J.L. Prats, V. Rodriguez, L. Morales. In this colourful recording he sounds a bit emphatic but sober, his phrases are nicely shaped and the shades well depicted.

The video is illustrated with some of my beloved fotos that I have taken in Brazil, in Greece and Argentina.

These two dances were part of the soundtrack of the wonderful cuban-spanish-mexican film Fresa y Chocolate, 1993, (Strawberry and Chocolate) by Tomás Gutiérez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío based on a short story written by Senel Paz. This sensitive film, using the story of a homosexual love affair, talks about tolerance in every form and respectfully presents the flaws of the revolutionary Cuban society.

Enjoy.